Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Disney's America on Parade A History of the U.S.A. in a Dazzling Fun-Filled Pageant by David Jacobs Jacobs, David 1939- Born August 12, 1939, in Baltimore, MD; son of Melvin and Ruth (Levenson); married Diana Pietrocarli, February 12, 1977 (second marriage); children: Aaron Michael, Molly Sarah, Albyn Leah. Education: Maryland Institute College of Art, B.F.A., 1961. Hobbies and other interests: Photography. ADDRESSES: Agent— c/o Author Mail, St. Martin's Press, 175 5th Ave., New York, NY 10010. CAREER: Writer, producer, and director. Freelance painter, 1961-63; freelance writer, 1963-75; The Blue Knights, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), staff writer, 1976; Family, American Broadcasting Companies (ABC), story editor, 1977-78; Dallas, CBS, executive story consultant and creator, 1978. Executive producer and creator of television shows, including Married: The First Year, Lorimar, 1979; (with Lee Rich and Michael Filermaë also director of some episodes) Knots Landing, CBS, 1979-83; (with Lee Rich and Michael Filerman) Secrets of Midland Heights, CBS, 1980-81; Berrenger's, National Broadcasting Company (NBC), 1985; Paradise (also known as Guns of Paradise ), CBS, 1988-91; and Bodies of Evidence, CBS, 1992-93. Executive producer of made-for-television movies (with Lee Rich) A Perfect Match, CBS, 1980; (with Malcolm Stuart) Dallas: The Early Years, CBS, 1986; and of television miniseries (with Gary Adelson) Lace, ABC, 1984; Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac, CBS, 1997. Producer of the television show Four Corners, 1998. Appeared as himself in the television specials The Knots Landing Block Party, CBS, 1983; When Shoulderpads Ruled the World, 2002; Intimate Portrait: Joan Van Ark, 2002; and Intimate Portrait: Linda Gray, 2003. AWARDS, HONORS: Stirling University, honorary doctorate, 2000. WRITINGS: FOR TELEVISION. (With others) The Blue Knight (series), Columbia Broadcasting System, 1976. (With others) Knots Landing (series), Columbia Broadcasting System, 1979. (With others) Secrets of Midland Heights (series), Columbia Broadcasting System, 1980. (With others) Behind the Screen (series), Columbia Broadcasting System, 1981. Dallas: The Early Years (miniseries), Columbia Broadcasting System, 1986. Paradise (also known as Guns of Paradise ; pilot), Columbia Broadcasting System, 1988. (With others) Bodies of Evidence (series), Columbia Broadcasting System, 1992. NONFICTION, WITH THE EDITORS OF "HORIZON" Master Builders of the Middle Ages, American Heritage Publishing (New York, NY), 1969. Constantinople: The City on the Golden Horn, American Heritage Publishing (New York, NY), 1969. Beethoven, American Heritage Publishing (New York, NY), 1970. Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire, Cassel (London, England), 1971. OTHER. (With Anthony E. Neville) Bridges, Canals, and Tunnels, American Heritage Publishing (New York, NY), 1968. Master Painters of the Renaissance, Viking (New York, NY), 1968. An American Conscience: Woodrow Wilson's Search for World Peace, Harper (New York, NY), 1973. Architecture, Newsweek Books (New York, NY), 1974. Chaplin, the Movies, and Charlie, Harper (New York, NY), 1975. Disney's America on Parade: A History of the U.S.A. in a Dazzling, Fun-Filled Pageant, Harry N. Abrams (New York, NY), 1975. (With Sara Ann Friedman) Police!: A Precinct at Work, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1975. Me, Myself & Irene: A Novel (novelization based on the screenplay by Peter Farrelly, Mike Cerrone, and Bobby Farrelly), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2000. SIDELIGHTS: David Jacobs has written extensively over the years, producing both books and television scripts, but he is best known for creating the epic television series Dallas. This series, which aired from 1978 to 1991, was the first- or second-ranked program every season from 1980-81 to 1984-85, and the November 21, 1980 episode, "Who Shot J.R.?" was the second-most-watched television episode in history, falling behind the 1983 series finale of the Korean-War themed MASH. Dallas, which Jacobs conceived as a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, focuses on two competing families of oil barons in Texas, who are united when a son from one family, the Ewings, marries a daughter from the other family, the Barneses. Jacobs did not set out to build a career in television when he graduated from college. He studied painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art, but he ceased to work in the visual arts two years after graduation in order to pursue writing. "I'd always had both passions but I thought the painting was firsë it turned out it wasn't," Jacobs said, in a interview published in Broadcasting. Until the mid-1970s, Jacobs made his living writing nonfiction books, mostly for use in schools. Then, in 1975, Jacobs's ex-wife and daughter moved from New York to California, and Jacobs followed them in order to remain close to his daughter. In 1976 he was hired as a staff writer at Lorimar Television to work on the show The Blue Knights. The show was canceled only four weeks after Jacobs was hired, but Lorimar was sufficiently impressed with his work to offer him the development deal that led to Dallas. Jacobs also created, produced, and sometimes directed and wrote for the Dallas spin-off, Knots Landing, which focuses on the middle Ewing son. This series, Jacobs has said, was inspired by the 1973 Ingmar Bergman film Scenes from a Marriage. "The trick is knowing where to steal from," Jacobs told Sunday Times interviewer Liam Fay in 1999. Jacobs continued: "You should always steal, but only high-class stuff." BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES: BOOKS. Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 37, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 2002. Les Brown's Encyclopedia of Television, 3rd edition, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 1992. PERIODICALS. Broadcasting, January 29, 1990, "David Jacobs: The Road to Paradise, " p. 71. Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland), May 10, 2000, "Dallas Soap King to Get Uni Award," p. 20. Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, October 11, 2002, Ed Bark, " Dallas Feature Film to Bring J.R. and the Gang Back to Life," p. K2333. New York, January 21 1985, John Leonard, review of Berringer's, p. 58. Record (Bergen County, NJ), October 15, 2002, Ed Bark, " Dallas Going to the Movies," p. F02. Sunday Times (London, England), September 19, 1999, Sue Denham, "TG4 Soap to Get Dallas Treatment," p. 19; October 3, 1999, Liam Fay, "The Dallas Way of Stealing Soap" (interview with Jacobs), p. 12. Variety, November 9, 1988, review of Paradise, p. 44; June 15, 1992, Tony Scott, review of Bodies of Evidence, p. 60. ONLINE. Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com/ (July 1, 2006), author credit information. Official Guide to Dallas, http://www.ultimatedallas.com/ (July 1, 2006), Colin Hunter, "Star Chat with David Jacobs," author interview. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA Chicago APA. Citation styles. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. David Jacobs Biography (1939-) Born August 12, 1939, in Baltimore, MD; son of Melvin and Ruth (maiden name,Levenson) Jacobs; married Diana Pietrocarli, February 12, 1977; children: Aaron Michael, Molly Sarah, Albyn Leah. Nationality American Gender Male Occupation Producer, director, writer Birth Details August 12, 1939 Baltimore, Maryland. Famous Works. CREDITS Television Work Series Story editor, Family, ABC, 1977-1978 Creator and executive story consultant, Dallas, CBS, 1978 Producer and creator, Married: The First Year, CBS, 1979 (With Lee Rich and Michael Filerman) Executive producer and creator, Knots Landing, CBS, 1979-1983 (With Rich and Filerman) Executive producer and creator, Secrets of Midland Heights, CBS, 1980-1981 (With Filerman) Executive producer, Behind the Screen, CBS, 1981-1982 Producer and creator, Berrengers, NBC, 1985 Executive producer and creator, Paradise (also known as Guns ofParadise ), CBS, 1988-1991 Executive producer, Homefront (also known as 1945 ), ABC, 1991 Executive producer, Bodies of Evidence, 1992 Producer, Four Corners, 1998 Television Executive Producer Movies (With Lee Rich) A Perfect Match, CBS, 1980 (With Malcolm Stuart) Dallas: The Early Years, CBS, 1986 Miniseries (With Gary Adelson) Lace, ABC, 1984 Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de- Sac, 1997. Book Review: Disney’s America on Parade. “America On Parade” ran from June 6, 1975 to September 6, 1976 at Walt Disney World and from June 12, 1975 to September 12, 1976 at Disneyland. Bob Jani, entertainment head, led a group of Disney designers to create special floats and costumes (the characters with the big heads) to celebrate America’s Bicentennial. The book, Disney’s America On Parade , is part history book and part look at the creation of the floats and characters. The Introduction to the book (six full pages) is the only section that discusses the parade. The rest of the book is written as a primer for anyone looking for more information about the first 200 years of America’s history. I would hazard a guess that it is geared towards the sixth through eight grade history student. Seriously, it is a history text. Beside being one of the longest and largest parades in Disney history, “America On Parade” showcased a few technical milestones, including a new way of using audio with the floats. From the Introduction: To make the most of the recorded music, the Disney engineers devised a system whereby selected units broadcast from their own loudspeakers while others broadcast their signals to radio receivers along the parade route; then the signals are rebroadcast through loudspeakers in fixed locations. The radio-transmitted signals and the signals broadcast from the units themselves are perfectly synchronized, and make music that is almost symphonic in its constancy and pacing. By far, the best feature of the book is the images. Concept art, maquettes and in-park photos appear on almost every page. In addition, there are three fold out pages that show the parade in action at Disneyland. Here are a few images from the book: This was an actual float used in the parade! Everyone loves food in a parade, right? This book isn’t for everyone. If you are a completist or have an interest in parades at Disney, then you need to grab a copy now. It is a fun way to see how Disney portrayed American history, especially how the pilgrims punished people. Otherwise, you can enjoy a lot of the scanned images by searching online. For some great images of the parade, visit the Disney’s America on Parade page at Werner Weiss’ Yesterland. Get Away Today. In 2007, I started Imaginerding.com as a way to share my love of Disney theme park-related books. The majority of my posts and articles have been about books and showcasing the various titles about Walt Disney World. It is obvious from my column here at Mice Chat, that I have an obsession with Disney-related books. They are the basis for most of my research and have inspired most of the projects I have done. A frequent request I have had over the years is for books about the history of Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, there isn't one book that covers it completely, but there are several titles you can digest that will give you a very good picture. There are a lot of titles available and they come from different sources; check out the ones that look most interesting. Most of us have written papers in high school or college that required a bibliography, which is usually a lists of sources cited in the paper. You can also have a list of books about a subject that stands alone. The definition of a bibliography is: This bibliography is by no means a complete list of books available on Walt Disney World; I have only added books that I own. Feel free to leave a comment if I have missed something good! General Interest. The books included in this set focus on more than just Walt Disney World. They look at the people behind the parks and the company. I consider each title an essential part of any Disney enthusiast's library. The Imagineers. Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind-the-Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. 1998. A spectacular title that looks at how the Imagineers create the theme parks. Concept art, anecdotes and pictures fill the volume. Has information on the development of attractions, lands and resorts. A must have! The Imagineers. Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real. 2010. A completely re-vamped update to the 1998 classic. Shares concept art, photos and paintings from Disney Parks around the world. The focus is mainly on developments of the past 15 years.You can read my review here. Kurtti, Jeff. Walt Disney's Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park. 2008. Kurtti looks at Imagineering's (WED) heavy hitters and discusses their contribution to the modern theme park. Rare concept artwork and loads of biographical anecdotes present a look at early Imagineering . You can read my review here. ​ Smith, Dave. Disney: The First 100 Years. 1999. An essential part of every collection, Disney Archives Head Smith has put together a chronological look at the Disney Company . The following titles are specific to Walt Disney World and cover more than just an attraction. The Kurtti, Koenig and Beard titles are a must! If you are interested in the history and construction of Walt Disney World, check out these books. Beard, Richard F. Walt Disney's Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow. 1982. This is the book that every fan of Epcot should own. An amazing amount of conceptual artwork and photos of the park during its first few months. In-depth information on the pavilions and anecdotes from the Imagineers. There are three editions: a pre-opening, post-opening and a short version. The difference in the post- and pre- is whether some of the pictures are in-park photos or close-ups of models and the title. You can read my review here. Emerson, Chad. Four Decades of Magic: Celebrating the First Forty Years of Disney World. 2011. A compilation of essays celebrating the rich tapestry of Walt Disney World by Disney historians, bloggers and enthusiasts. Includes an essay by yours truly! Emerson, Chad. Project Future: The Inside Story Behind the Creation of Disney World. 2009. Emerson takes an in-depth and straightforward look at the creation of Walt Disney World. It covers the purchase of the land and the political machinations that took place. It includes a great timeline and listing of key players. You can read my review here. Foglesong, Richard. Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando. 2003. A critical look at the relationship between Walt Disney World and its Central Florida neighbors. The title recounts a lot of the deals that were made to bring the Mouse to Florida and the relationships that developed. After reading this, you might question the good that Disney does. Still, it is a compelling read. Gennawey, Sam. Walt and the Promise of Progress City. 2011. An urban planner by trade, Sam is uniquely qualified to trace the development of EPCOT Center. This books looks at how Walt evolved his plans and what EPCOT Center might have looked like if plans had progressed. You can read my review here. Gordon, Bruce; Kurtti, Jeff. Walt Disney World Then, Now, and Forever. 2008. Theme Park Exclusive . Gordon and Kurtti have written a history/souvenir guide for Walt Disney World. It does act more like a family scrapbook than a history book, until you delve into its pages It is one of the few books to talk about attractions past. You can read my review here . Koenig, David. Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World. 2007. Koenig looks at the creation, construction and development of Walt Disney World. There is not another title that talks to as many former employees to reveal anecdotes and what happened politically. You can read my review here . Kurtti, Jeff. Since The World Began: Walt Disney World, The First 25 Years. 1996. The seminal title in any theme park enthusiast's library . Kurtti explores the first 25 years of Walt Disney World with photographs and rich historical detail. This is the only official history book about the Florida property. You can read my review here. Malmberg, Melody. The Making Of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. 1998. This book goes into an incredible amount of detail on the initial ideas, design and implementation of Disney's Animal Kingdom. You can read my review here . Mannheim, Steven.Walt Disney and the Quest for Community. 2003. This book could almost be considered a biography of the Epcot that could have been. Mannheim writes a very through- provoking and enjoyable work on Walt Disney's plans for EPCOT Center and how they germinated and became reality (or didn't, in some cases). You can read my review here . . Various Years (1971, 1973, 1976). An official publication that looks at the first few years of Walt Disney World. It focuses on the building of the Magic Kingdom, the resorts and the rest of the vacation kingdom. It has a great stylized map and lots of pictures. It has some great construction and behind-the-scenes photos. .1982. An official publication that looks at the development of the Magic Kingdom, hotels and the Village Marketplace. The book is like a time capsule with lots of great photos. You can read my review here . . 1991. An official publication that is part history and part souvenir guide. Great for pictures and as a time capsule. Updates Walt Disney World, The First Decade. You can read my review here. Yee, Kevin. Unofficial Walt Disney World 'Earbook 2011: One Fan's Review in Pictures. 2011. Kevin has been producing this year-long look at Walt Disney World since 2010. This is a great resource for historians and fans. I just wish Kevin had started this series in 1971. You can read my review here. Yee, Kevin, Walt Disney World Hidden History: Remnants of Former Attractions and Other Tributes . 2010. An unofficial guide that looks at the hidden details, histories and tributes throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. You can read my review here. Attraction Specific. These books are dedicated to specific attractions at Walt Disney World. If you have a favorite attraction that is featured in the book, then you need to track a copy or two down. Broggie, Michael. Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom. 1998. Broggie presents a fascinating look at Walt's Railroad--part biography and part theme park history. The majority of the book focuses on the Carolwood-Pacific, but Broggie does discuss the Magic Kingdom and Ft. Wilderness Railroads. You can read my review here. Jacobs, David. Disney's America On Parade - A History Of The U.S.A. In A Dazzling Fun-filled Pageant. 1975. It is hard to believe that Disney released a book that focuses solely on a parade! This is a wonderful mix of history, concept art and photographs of the long-running and well-loved parade at Disneyland and Walt Disney World during the country's bicentennial. You can read my review here. Leaphart, David. Walt Disney World Railroads Part 1: Fort Wilderness Railroad. 2010. David has compiled an monumental and magnificent look at the Fort Wilderness Railroad. A must for any fan of Fort Wilderness, trains or early Walt Disney World anecdotes. Visit the author's website for more information. You can read my review here. Leaphart, David. Walt Disney World Railroads Part 1: Fort Wilderness Railroad Gallery Companion. 2010. A companion guide to David's work on the Fort Wilderness Railroad. More pictures than you can shake a stick at! Surrell, Jason. The Disney Mountains: Imagineering At Its Peak. 2007. Surrell takes an in-depth look at every Disney mountain, from Matterhon to Everest, with side trips to some un-built mountains. A must-have for fans of the Disney roller coasters. Surrell, Jason. The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. 2006. If you are a fan of the Haunted Mansion, you need to own this book. Surrell starts at the earliest concepts and takes us through to the final incarnations, step-by-step. The concept art is wonderful. We also get a look at all of the different Mansions throughout the different Magic Kingdoms. Surrell, Jason. Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. 2006. An in-depth history of Pirates of the Caribbean, from concept stages to Disneyland Paris. We experience all versions of the attraction through the script, artwork and photographs . There would be no Walt Disney World without these artists. The Kurtti/Gordon book offers wonderful concept art. Hench, John. Designing Disney. 2009. Hench shares his thoughts on helping to design every Disney theme park. The text is insightful and the artwork is astounding. Hench was the master designer of EPCOT Center and most of Walt Disney World.There is also a 2003 edition. Kurrti, Jeff; Gordon, Bruce. The Art of Walt Disney World. 2009. Theme Park Exclusive . Jeff and Bruce have collaborated again to create a sister volume to the wonderful Art of Disneyland . This large-scale book presents concept artwork from every phase of Walt Disney World's history. Many of the images are seen here for the first time. Every fan of Walt Disney World should own this title. You can read my full review here. Mumford, Dave; Gordon, Bruce. A Brush with Disney : An Artist's Journey, Told through the words and works of Herbert Dickens Ryman. 2000. A look at Herb Ryman's art--not just work done for Disney, but over his entire career. There are some amazing concept paintings of the Magic Kingdom. You can read my full review here . Miscellaneous. Detailed-inspired travel guides, academic treatises and amazing photographic titles. Usually more of a time-capsule than a history title. There are some fantastic books in this section. Some of them are geared more towards the serious student of Walt Disney World history and some offer images that will please anyone. Burns-Clair, Pam and Peri, Don. Walt Disney's First Lady of Imagineering Harriet Burns. 2010. Harriet's daughter Pam and Disney Historian Don Peri craft a fascinating and beautiful collection of anecdotes and tributes to Harriet Burns, as told by her family, friends and co-workers. You can read my review here. Childs, Valerie. The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World. 1979. This work is mainly a pictorial essay about Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Geared mainly for park detectives and people who visited the parks in the 1970s. You can read my review here. Dunlop, Beth. Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture . 2011. An update of her 1996 work, Building a Dream looks at Disney architecture through the years. The focus is heavy on the Eisner years. The 2011 update does cover a lot of the more recent buildings. There are some great photos of the Team Disney and other administrative buildings. Fjelmman, Stephen J. Vinyl Leaves: Walt Disney World And America . 1992. Vinyl Leaves is a rare book in the fact that it takes a detailed look at Walt Disney World from 1988-1992 and details almost every attraction. It is presented as a sociological/anthropological look at Disney and America, but the descriptions of the parks are the strongest points. The index is astounding and will be referenced for years to come. You can read my review here. Hannaford, Dee. The Gardens of Walt Disney World Resort. 1988. One of the most beautiful coffee-table books ever produced about Walt Disney World. Amazing photographs of the gardens and natural areas help to create a snapshot of Walt Disney World Resort in 1988. Absolutely gorgeous and belongs in every collection . Imagineering Field Guide Series: Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdomand Disney's Hollywood Studios. 2005-2009. Written by The Imagineers (Alex Wright is the main author), this series of guidebooks discusses some of the details and histories of the parks. They are designed to be taken into the park with you; hence the artwork can be fairly small, but exciting. It is like touringthe park with your own Imagineer. Justice, Bill. Justice for Disney: Animator, Director, Imagineer. 1992. Bill was a pivotal person in the development of animatronics and a few early Walt Disney World attractions. It is a very charming memoir and offers something for everyone. You can read my review here. Korkis, Jim. The Vault of Walt . 2010. Jim Korkis coined the term Disney Historian and is an excellent story teller. The stories he shares in this book cover more than Walt Disney World, but there are some fantastic gems . Lindquist, Jack. In Service to the Mouse: My Unexpected Journey to Becoming Disneyland's First President. 2010. Jack was a pivotal Disneyland employee and was eventually the first president of Disneyland. He worked with the opening of Walt Disney World and was on the World Showcase development team. You can read my review here. Designing Disney's Theme Parks: The Architecture of Reassurance. 1998. Marling presents a series of academic articles written by historians, critics and architects that look at the development of the Disney theme park. Wonderful photographs . Preskit, Denise. Christmas at Walt Disney World: An Unofficial Pictorial of the Christmas Season Through the Years at the Parks and Resorts. 2011. Who doesn't love Walt Disney World at Christmas? Prolific blogger and photographer, Denise chronicles some of the Christmases past and offers a detailed look at the 2011 Holiday season. You can read my review here. Reynolds, Robert R. Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers: the Story of Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon, Ride Inventors of the Modern Amusement Parks. 1999. Reynolds presents a narrative series of interviews with the founders of Arrow Development. Mostly about Disneyland, but there is a chapter on Walt Disney World. You can read my review here. ​ Ridgway, Charles. Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent. 2007. Mr. Ridgway recounts his years with the Walt Disney Company and what it was like to work at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It reads like a love letter to the theme parks. Celebration. Although Disney has divested themselves of Celebration for most intents, it is still an important part of the Walt Disney World story. These titles look more at the after effect of Disney's town and less on Walt's vision. Frantz, Douglas & Collins, Catherine, Celebration, U.S.A.: Living in Disney's Brave New Town. 1999. I haven't read this title, but the reviews seem to paint it as a fairly unbiased but not very deep look at Celebration. Lassell, Micheal. Celebration - The Story of a Town . 2004. A glossy, photo-filled look at Celebration near the end of its first decade. Lassell doesn't shirk the darker times in Celebration's history but he still paints a picture of a town trying to find itself inside of Disney's shadow. The book has some fantastic photos. Ross, Andrew, The Celebration Chronicles: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Property Value in Disney's New Town . 2000. I haven't read this title. The reviews discuss an academic look at the town that gets fairly favorable reviews. This is by no means a complete list. There are a few titles I have left out simply because I do not own them. Are there any that I should include on the list? Do you have a favorite book about Walt Disney World? ImagiNERDing is written and edited by George Taylor. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at [email protected] I also write at Everything Walt Disney World and I am one half of the incredibly talented, handsome, charming, sanguine, lucent, effervescent and intelligent duo behind Communicore Weekly . You can find us on the Mice Chat Youtube Channel. Celebrating Disney’s America on Parade. Unfurl the flags, strike up the bands, and light the fireworks… it’s time for an Independence Day salute to America on Parade , Disney’s jubilee of music, emotion, and memorable moments designed to honor the American Bicentennial in style. Proclaimed as a “new achievement in Disney pageantry,” this colorful tribute to the history and legacy of the United States has itself earned an honored place in the annals of Disney, for America on Parade is one of the most celebrated presentations in Disney theme park history. Intended to convey the festive feel of the Fourth of July—whethere it’s the holiday or not!—this spectacular homage to America’s history, people, and traditions was characterized by Disney as a “birthday party for the country.” As a special Independence Day treat, here’s a red, white, and blue look at this most patriotic of all Disney parades. Mickey, Donald and Goofy love a parade as the symbol of America on Parade. Originally created in 1939, this art was inspired by The Spirit of ’76 , painted by American artist Archibald MacNeal Willard in Wellington, Ohio after, appropriately enough, he saw a parade pass through the town square. That most famous of American paintings was exhibited at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, while this iconic Mickey Mouse image was widely reproduced during Disney’s Bicentennial celebration. Walt Disney once said of Disneyland, “There is an American theme behind the whole park. I believe in emphasizing the story of what made America great and what will keep it great.” There was no better setting than Disneyland and the then-new (as of 1971) Walt Disney World resort to salute the Bicentennial of the United States. From small towns to big cities and from each of the fifty states to the U.S. government itself— Congress had initiated planning in 1966—all of America was preparing to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial in a big way. Companies and corporations including the major television networks all planned significant observations of the nation’s first two centuries, and Disney—a symbol of American success, ingenuity, and celebration—naturally decided to join in the festivities. “Because of Disney’s vast experience and expertise in producing entertainments on a grand scale,” stated the America on Parade souvenir program, “it was very fitting, as America came to its 200th anniversary, that Walt Disney’s company take a leading role in using Disneyland and Walt Disney World as a showcase for the best that America has been and has to offer.” Disney News magazine devoted not one but two covers to America on Parade , including this colorful scene for the Fall 1975 issue. Though the parade featured Disney characters—in addition to headliners Mickey, Donald and Goofy, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and even the Day Glo-colored Scat Cat band from The Aristocats (1970) put in an appearance—the true stars were the People of America, seen here in the Southern riverboat scene. These oversized performers made a tremendous impact, and the People of America costumes were later adapted for the early years of Epcot as the “People of the World” at World Showcase. Development of what would become America on Parade began in 1974 under the direction of entertainment head, Disney Legend Bob Jani. Classic Disney inspiration came from the July 1939 Mickey Mouse Magazine cover. Attributed to Disney publicity artist Hank Porter, this specially created art was an affectionate tribute to the famous painting The Spirit of ’76 , featuring Mickey Mouse as flag bearer, Donald Duck as fifer, and Goofy as drummer, all decked out in Colonial dress. The delightful artwork inspired not only the lead parade unit—the three patriotic pals heading up the grand procession on a float boasting a stylized 18-foot American Eagle—but also became the patriot-pleasing logo of the entire America on Parade pageant. Rather than focus on America’s many battles for freedom, the parade’s creators concentrated on the ideals, principles and important figures that shaped the nation. The Disney creative team immersed themselves in extensive research on the accomplishments of America’s leaders as well as the daily life of its citizens. The parade would also salute memorable moments (the first Thanksgiving, Sunday in the park, school days, etc.), significant American innovations, and even popular pastimes. With an event as monumental as the 200th birthday of the land of the free and the home of the brave, the parade’s designers knew that their show would have to be big indeed. The entire spectacle would be presented in larger-than-life proportions, not on mere floats, but on enormous moving “stages.” According to Kevin Kidney, Disney historian, artist and co-designer of the newly launched Mickey’s Soundsational Parade at Disneyland Park, intricate scale models for each of the proposed stages were hand-made by Disneyland artist/designer Clare Graham and a team of artists from the park’s Entertainment department. These charming models were intricately crafted from a variety of materials including colored felt, paper, wood, wire, and illustration board, and were used as guides in the building of the parade’s full-sized stages. Ultimately, fifty fanciful units were decided upon, and the Disney team assigned some of the nation’s top set design manufacturers—builders of everything from elaborate floats for the Tournament of Roses Parade to glamorous sets for movies and Las Vegas shows—to make the miniature models immense parade-ready realities. Construction began in workshops from sea to shining sea and the star-spangled stages, averaging more than twenty feet in height, with some as long as thirty feet, had to be constructed in duplicate, as this was the first parade to be simultaneously presented at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Before arriving in California or Florida some of the stages traveled over 3,000 miles. This 1975 Little Golden Book was one of the many pieces of memorabilia created to celebrate America on Parade . Other publications included Disney’s America on Parade: A History of the U.S.A. in a Dazzling, Fun-Filled Pageant with a text by David Jacobs (apparently the same David Jacobs who would go on to create the hit TV series Dallas ). Issued in both hardcover and trade paperback editions this deluxe volume explored 200 years of U.S. history illustrated by full-color conceptual art and models as well as photos of the pageant itself. To charmingly populate the various scenes that would unfold through the vibrant stage designs, a new family of Disney characters was created. Called the People of America, these truly unique costumed characters were at first intended to be the same approximate height as Mickey Mouse and his friends, but the designers discovered the People of America needed to be taller in order to be in scale with the giant floats. At almost eight feet tall and with fancifully oversized heads, the more than 150 doll-like figures were designed to help guests of every age see America on Parade through the eyes of a child. Historical personages such as Christopher Columbus, Ben Franklin, and Pilgrims were playfully represented, as were such familiar American figures as Miss Liberty, Uncle Sam, Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher. Also numbered among this whimsical cast were everyday people like teachers, shopkeepers and athletes. Most of the enormous figures were actually alike; the differences in the personalities portrayed were mainly achieved through costuming so the wardrobe for the doll-like people was of paramount importance. Researchers and costumers worked together to find accurate fabrics for these historical costumes, and to sew them as they would have been stitched fifty, a hundred, two-hundred years ago. The material also had to be bright enough to be seen clearly by spectators, tough enough to withstand hundreds of outdoor performances, and practical enough to be cleaned easily and frequently. The outsized dolls were also given oversized wigs, hats and props, all of which had to meet the same requirements met by the costumes. Music was of course to play a central role in this processional showcase of Americana. Premier Disney tunesmiths Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman were commissioned to create a spirited Independence Day-themed anthem. “Bob Jani, Disney’s great project creator, asked us to write a theme song for the Bicentennial park parade,” the Shermans later reported, and the new song “The Glorious Fourth” was composed in 1974. The main melodic narrative for the fun-filled pageant was to come from favorite American standards. Research was conducted into not only songs celebrating the United States but also U.S. tunes composed to celebrate its citizens and their all-American activities. Toe-tapping favorites such as “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Turkey in the Straw,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and “In My Merry Oldsmobile” musically told the tale of a vibrant country at work and at play. The only Disney song included was the upbeat Oscar®-winner “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” while the entire spectacle was stirringly climaxed with “God Bless America.” This rendering by Imagineer Sam McKim conceptualized how Mickey, Donald, and Goofy would lead off America on Parade as the Spirit of ’76 . As with every entertaining element of America on Parade , the music was presented in a novel manner, offering guests a unique listening experience. The creators of this musical jamboree wanted the well-loved songs to be presented in a unique style that was still in keeping with the nostalgic spirit of the parade. Seeking a band-organ sound, they began a search two years before America on Parade ‘s projected debut for a real mechanical music box to play the selected songs. Eventually, they found a restored 1890 band organ belonging to Paul Eakin of Sikeston, Missouri. Known as Sadie Mae, the ornate instrument worked on the same principle as a player piano, except punched-hole piano books were used instead of piano rolls. This incredible music machine had some two hundred pipes including 20 trumpets, eight trombones, 17 octave violins, 17 flageolets, 17 piccolos, 20 open flutes, 17 stopped flutes, 17 clarinets, 17 cellos, and 30 bass. Arrangements of the songs were created by music director Jim Christensen, but the team then discovered the one man in the world capable of hand-making piano books was in Belgium. Determined to settle for nothing less than the quaintly novel sound of Sadie Mae, Disney sent the musical arrangements to Belgium and had the books made. The Sadie Mae was then carefully taken apart and shipped to Nashville, where it was painstakingly reconstructed at the Grand Ole Opry to be recorded as it played the new books. Bob Jani wanted to give the old world sound of the band organ a modern twist so the 16-track masters made in Nashville were sent to Los Angeles, where musician Don Dorsey (who went on to create music for many Disney parades) was enlisted to overlay the band organ recordings with the sounds of a Moog synthesizer. The synthesizer was of course a crowd-pleasing part of the Main Street Electrical Parade , which America on Parade supplanted for the Bicentennial celebration. America on Parade also utilized the sound system developed for the Main Street Electrical Parade , with some America on Parade units broadcasting their musical themes to the parade-watchers from their own loudspeakers while others broadcast their signals to radio receivers along the parade route; then the signals were rebroadcast through loudspeakers in fixed locations in a symphony of synchronization. The nation’s official Bicentennial Celebration kicked off in April 1975, and America on Parade first stepped off just two months later. After press previews, America on Parade debuted on June 6, 1975 at Walt Disney World and on June 12 at Disneyland. This firecracker of a procession stretched for an impressive three-quarters of a mile, that was, as the America on Parade souvenir program put it, was ” a continuously moving ‘stage’ that captures the spirit of Americana in a grand display of colorful people and settings.” After Mickey, Donald and Goofy got things off to a spirited start, the next section honored “Historical and Memorable Moments,” featuring everything from Christopher Columbus’ famous vessels to a quaint schoolhouse complete with teacher and pupils to one of the pageant’s most popular scenes: Betsy Ross sitting atop a two-story high rocker as she sewed an enormous American flag. Next, the “Contributions and Achievements” section celebrated advancements in transportation, sports, food, inventions, and entertainment including TV, the movies and the circus. The jubilant climactic sequence was “The Celebration of Independence” the highlight of which was a “Symbols of Freedom” unit starring the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam. This grand finale featured a marching band from a high school or college, specially invited by Disney from all 50 states to be an integral part of this extravaganza. During the summer months and holidays, America on Parade was presented twice, and the evening parade was crowned with a blazing show in the sky consisting entirely of red, white, and blue fireworks. Televised salutes and exclusive memorabilia proclaimed America on Parade as a major event. A specially produced televsion special was syndicated to local stations for broadcast on April 3, 1976. Monsanto Night Presents Walt Disney’s America on Parade , hosted by comic televison and movie star Red Skelton, was the 16th installment of the Monsanto Night series of specials and the only one with a Disney theme. A veritable parade of collectables marched forth into the homes of fans: coins, mugs, picture and history books, plates, View-Master reels, puzzles, watches, coloring, and sticker fun books, Colorforms play sets. The America on Parade lunch box-and-thermos kit was particularly appealing. Manufactured by Aladdin Industries, creator of Disney lunch boxes since 1957, the colorful metal container featured the Mickey-Donald-Goofy art on one side and the Liberty Bell parade unit—complete with George Washington-like doll figures pulling the float—proudly parading down Main Street, U.S.A. in charming art by Aladdin artist Beverly Burge. A figural music box and a porcelain sculpture—each spotlighting the Spirit of ’76 trio—were among the most popular of the theme park memorabilia. Also offered was a set of commemorative plates featuring newly created art of American Revolution scenes, humorously portraying Disney characters such as Minnie Mouse and Scrooge McDuck as historical figures. The quaintly thrilling Sadie Mae score was available in its entirety at both parks on a distinctive picture disc, A Musical Souvenir of America on Parade . America on Parade unfolded more then twelve-hundred times, and before its final hurrah on September 6, 1976 in Florida and on September 12, 1976 in California, an estimated twenty-five million people experienced the parade, the largest audience ever to view a live performance up until that time. Spectacularly exceeding its goal of giving that pyrotechnic Fourth of July feeling every day of its 15 month run, America on Parade celebrated in unforgettable fashion what the Sherman Brothers’ lyrics from “The Glorious Fourth” call “the bang-up, uproarious, flag-waving glorious fourth, the Fourth of July!”